There is a rock in the Owahanga River near the mouth that is home to a vicious taniwha. Many people have been troubled by this creature over the years.
But in this case the taniwha is the changing tide. The current can be so strong at this place that people have been dragged underneath the rock into the jaws of the taniwha.
Telling children about this taniwha was a very good way of keeping them out of harms way.
There are similar taniwha all around the coast, even today we are told to be cautious of them at places such as on the Rangiwhakaoma (Castlepoint) reef and while swimming at Motukairangi (Riversdale).